Objective To study the clinical value of color Doppler ultrasonography in typing tuberculous epididymitis.Methods The appearances of color Doppler ultrasound and the findings on operation were analysed in 33 patients with tuberculous epididymitis.Results Of the 33 patients,epididymis appeared as diffusely and heterogeneously enlarged lesions with increased flow in 2 cases,appeared as nodular lesions in 13 cases including nodi with echofree space in 3 cases, nodi with high-level echo patches in 3 cases, and low echo-level nodi in 7 cases. Multiple lesions in scrotum were detected in 17 cases, of whom epididymis up to 11 cases appeared as diffusely enlarged heterogeneous lesions with flow increased.The sonographic appearancs of tuberculous epididymitis could be divided into 3 types:diffusion type, nodus type and complicated type. Nodus type included 3 subtypes: purulence type, calcification type, and cheese type.The accuracy rate of ultrsound diagnosis was 87.9%.Conclusions Testis is easy to be involved when epididymitis appears as diffusion type, so surgical treatments should be early.Purulence type and complicated type need surgical treatments while calcification type does not. Antituberculous drug treatments can be tried before surgical treatments in cheese type.Sonography of urinary system is helpful for the diagnosis of asymptomatic tuberculosis in urinary system when tuberculous epididymitis is first suspected on sonography.

This study was purposed to investigate the significance of Id4 gene methylation in monitoring the efficacy of allo-PBSCT for treatment of acute leukemias. MS-PCR method was used to detect Id4 gene methylation in bone marrow samples from 29 patients with acute leukemia before and at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after allo-PBSCT. The results showed that the Id4 gene was methylated in 18 patients before allo-PBSCT, out of which Id4 gene methylation in 8 patients could be detected sustainedly after allo-PBSCT, whereas among remaining 11 patients with Id4 gene unmethylation before PBSCT, the Id4 gene of only one case was found to be methylated after PBSCT. Out of 9 patients with Id4 gene methylation after allo-PBSCT, 4 had relapse during the follow-up. 20 patients with Id4 gene unmethylation after allo-PBSCT were in continuously complete remission status. Id4 gene methylation was found more frequently between 6 months and 1 year after allo-PBSCT. It is concluded that detecting Id4 gene methylation is important for the AL patients who underwent allo-PBSCT. Choosing the patients with Id4 gene unmethylaiton to receive allo-PBSCT may help to reduce relapse rate. After allo-PBSCT, Id4 gene methylation status can be regarded as an indicator for predicting prognosis of acute leukemias.
Adult ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Differentiation Proteins ; genetics ; Leukemia ; genetics ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence and related factors of prostatitis-like symptoms among young men.

METHODSThe study was a cross-sectional survey of 2500 young men aged 18-30 years in the city of Weifang, and all of them completed a questionnaire on prostatitis. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression procedures were used to investigate the risk factors among the young men with chronic prostatitis-like symptoms.

RESULTSThe valid response rate was 85% (n = 2125). Of the 128 subjects (6.02%) identified as having chronic prostatitis-like symptoms, the mean age was 21.8 years, the average pain score was 6.98 +/- 0.29, and the average voiding score was 3.77 +/- 0.25. Of the sampled population, 39 men had prostatitis-like symptoms with an index pain score of 8 or more. Significant risk factors include frequent masturbation, prolonged sitting, long-time fixed posture, cold environment, stress at home and work.

CONCLUSIONThe study suggested that chronic prostatitis-like symptoms are common among young men, and the urethritis history, frequent masturbation, prolonged sitting, long-time urine holding, cold environment, and stress at home and work might be significant risk factors.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Analysis of Variance ; China ; epidemiology ; Chronic Disease ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Prostatitis ; epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo analyse the WT1 expression and its DNA methylation status of its promoter domain.

METHODThe expression of WT1 gene and its DNA methylation status were assayed in leukemia cell lines and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) by RT-PCR and MS-PCR.

RESULTSWT1 was overexpressed in HL60, K562 and KG1 leukemia cell lines, but not in U937 and PBMNC. Methylation of WT1 promoter was not observed in HL60 cells.

CONCLUSIONDNA methylation of WT1 gene promotor did not inhibit its expression. Other mechanisms may appear to regulate the WT1 expression.

Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Methylation ; Genes, Wilms Tumor ; Humans ; Leukemia ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Promoter Regions, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the value of serum TR(6) for the diagnosis and TNM classification in patients with gastric carcinoma.

METHODSSerum TR(6) levels were measured using ELISA method in 31 gastric cancer patients, 19 patients with nonmalignant conditions and 29 healthy individuals. TR(6) expression in tumor mass was studied with immunohistochemistry. TR(6) gene copy number in tumor tissues was evaluated by real time PCR.

RESULTSNinety-seven point nine percent (47 of 48 cases) of healthy individuals and patients with nonmalignant conditions were serum TR(6)-negative. In contrast, 71% (22 of 31 cases) of gastric cancer patients were serum TR(6)-positive. Serum TR(6) positiveness was closely correlated with tumor differentiation status and TNM classification. TR(6) gene amplification did not occur in gastric carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONSSerum TR(6) levels were correlated significantly with TNM stage and histopathological type of tumor. This can help to determine the pre-operative TNM classification and to choose the optimal extent of lymph node dissection for gastric cancer.

Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; blood ; Neoplasm Staging ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; blood ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 6b ; Stomach Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology

Myeloid neoplasms with eosinophilia and abnormalities of PDGFRB gene are a new kind of myeloid disorders in the revised 2008 WHO classification. Out of detected 2000 cases of myeloid cell abnormalities in our hospital, 12 cases of myeloid neoplasms with eosinophilia and abnormalities of PDGFRB were found. This study was purposed to summarize and analyze the clinical and laboratorial characteristics of the 12 cases with PDGFRB gene abnormalities. The results indicated that among 12 cases of myeloid neoplasms with PDGFRB abnormalities, 5 cases with TEL/PDGFRB fusion gene, 2 cases with HEPI/PDGFRB, 1 case with PDGFRB mutation, 1 case with RABAPTIN-5/PDGFRB, 1 case with GIT2/PDGFRB, 1 case with TP53/PDGFRB, 1 case with WDR43/PDGFRB fusion gene were detected, showing the polymorphism of PDGFRB gene abnormalities. Among this kind of myeloid neoplasm patients, almost all patients manifested monocytosis and eosinophilia in different degree, the thrombocytosis mainly was observed in atypical myeloid neoplasms, acute leukemia, chromic myelo-monocytic leukemia patients. The treatment with imatinib mesylate for this kind of patients was effective in some cases. It is concluded that the myeloid neoplasms with PDGFRB gene abnormalities are a kind of heterogenetic myeloid neoplasms, their gene abnormal types and clinical manifestations show polymorphism too. The monocytosis and eosinophilia appear in this kind myeloid neoplasms which may be treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors such as imatinib mesylate.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; DNA ; genetics ; Eosinophilia ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; RNA ; analysis ; Receptor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor beta ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo separate the cell subpopulation with high tumorigenic ability and study the biological characteristics of this subpopulation in laryngeal carcinoma cells.

METHODSHuman laryngeal carcinoma cells were obtained by primary tissue culture technique. CD44 and CD133 molecules were used as markers to isolate the CD44(+), CD133(+), CD44(+)CD133(+) and CD44(+)CD133(-) cell subpopulations from the laryngeal carcinoma cells by flow cytometry. A nude mouse tumor xenograft model was developed for the study of the tumorigenic effects of the different cell populations. 1 x 10(6), 1 x 10(5), 1 x 10(4) and 1 x 10(3) cells were injected into the left flank of the mice, respectively. The mice were observed for palpable tumor formation and were sacrificed at 4 weeks later to assess the tumor formation rate, tumor volume and tumor weight. Boyden chamber migration assay was used to determine the migration ability and immunochemistry was used to detect the expression of stem cell antigen SCA-1 and beta1-integrin. Semi-quantities RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to detect the expression level of Bmi-1 in the different cell subpopulations.

RESULTSThe growth of subcutaneous tumors in nude mice showed that a tumor can be generated with 1 x 10(3) CD44(+)CD133(+) cells. When the same dose of 1 x 10(6) CD44(+)CD133(+) cells was injected into the mice, both the average weight and volume of the tumors were significantly higher than those generated from other cell subpopulations. Boyden chamber migration assay showed that the invasion ability of CD44(+)CD133(+) cells was significantly higher than that of other cell subsets. The results of immunochemical analysis showed an abundant expression of stem cell antigen SCA-1 and beta1-integrin in the CD44(+)CD133(+) cells. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot analysis provided strong evidence that the Bmi-1 expression in CD44(+)CD133(+) and CD133(+) cells was very significantly higher than that in CD44(+), CD44(+)CD133(-) and control cells (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONOur findings demonstrate that CD44(+)CD133(+) subset cells in laryngeal carcinoma posses some biological characteristics of tumor stem cells, which may be the original cells of laryngeal carcinoma and may become a new target of tumor therapy.

AC133 Antigen ; Animals ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; Antigens, Ly ; metabolism ; Cell Adhesion ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glycoproteins ; analysis ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; analysis ; Integrin beta1 ; metabolism ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Nuclear Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Peptides ; analysis ; Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; RNA ; metabolism ; Repressor Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Burden ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo analyze the risk factors which influencing the development of bronchopleural fistula (BPF) in pulmonary resections for lung cancer. To clarify the preventive techniques and treatment strategies of BPF.

METHODSReview the clinical data of 32 patients of postpneumonectomy BPF from 965 patients accepted pneumonectomy for lung cancer from May 1987 to May 2007. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed by the logistic regression procedure to identify the significant risk factors for BPF in 965 pulmonary resections for lung cancer.

RESULTSThe prevalence of BPF was 3.3% (32/965). BPF occurred in the right main bronchial stump in 28 patients, left main bronchial stump in 4 patients. The significant risk factors for BPF formation were right pneumonectomy, preoperative irradiation, prolonged mechanical ventilation, bronchial stump more than 2 cm and hypoalbuminemia. Multivariate analysis identified right pneumonectomy, preoperative radiotherapy and hypoalbuminemia as the risk factors of BPF. Successful closure of BPF was achieved in 13 patients (40.6%). The fistula was successfully closed in 5 of 6 patients who had received biologic glues applied bronchoscopically with a fistula less than 3 mm. Pedicled omentum was successfully used for the treatment in 5 of 6 patients with a fistula more than 3 mm.

CONCLUSIONSRight pneumonectomy, high-dose preoperative radiation therapy and hypoalbuminemia are risk factors for postpneumonectomy BPF. Biologic glues can be applied bronchoscopically to achieve endobronchial closure of the fistula less than 3 mm. Omentoplasty is useful for the fistula more than 3 mm.

Adult ; Aged ; Bronchial Fistula ; etiology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonectomy ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; therapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

This study was aimed to analyze the clinical features, anti-fungal therapeutic efficacy and safety in hematological malignancy patients with invasive aspergillosis (IA) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or chemotherapy. The patients with hematological malignancies received chemotherapy or HSCT were analyzed retrospectively, then the clinical characteristics and diagnosis were analyzed according to the diagnostic criteria for IA. The efficacy and safety of anti- Aspergillus therapy, and the factors influencing therapeutic response were evaluated. The results showed that out of 30 cases with IA, 2 were proven, 19 were probable, 9 were possible, and 19 were diagnosed after HSCT, most in the late period after-HSCT (> 40 d). 8 cases received fluconazol only, 6 received caspofungin only, 7 received combined therapy. The efficacy and time interval from the first day of treatment to successful response (TTR) were 87.5%, 50% and 85.7% and 38, 20 and 36 days, respectively. Combined therapy is better than single drug treatment (p < 0.05) while the TTR was not significantly different between them. The factors influencing the therapeutic efficacy were as follows: age, HSCT, GVHD and CMV, previous IFI and so on (p < 0.05). All the anti- Aspergillus medicines resulted in some injury of hepatic and renal function. However, there were no significant difference between the drugs or between combination and single drug therapy (p > 0.05). It is concluded that IA is also the major and severe complication in the patients with hematological malignancies or received HSCT. Combined therapy for anti- aspergillus is better than single drug in efficacy and safety, without increasing the adverse drug reactions for hepatic and renal function. The efficacy of anti- aspergillus may be related to age, HSCT, GVHD and CMV, previous IFI and so on.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Aspergillosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Aspergillus ; Female ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; complications ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Objective: To investigate the effect of moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) on fatigue in rats with chronic exercise-induced exhaustion. Methods: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group and a moxibustion group, 10 rats in each group. Except rats in the blank group, the remaining rats were subjected to create long-term exhaustion models by repeated swimming. After successful modeling, rats in the moxibustion group received mild moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) for 15 min, once every other day with a total of 10 times. Rats in the model group and the blank group did not receive moxibustion. At the end of the treatment, the exhausted times, and the body weight of rats before and after the experiment were compared among groups. The levels of blood malondialdehyde (MDA) and urea nitrogen (BUN), as well as the activities of aspartate transarninase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also measured by the automatic biochemical analyzer, 24 h after the exhausting excise. Results: The 10th swimming time was significantly longer in the moxibustion group than that in the model group (P<0.01). The increase rate of the body weight was lower in the rats of the moxibustion group than that in the model group before the 7th and the 10th exhausting excise (P<0.05, P<0.01). The levels of serum MDA and BUN, as well as the activities of AST, ALT and LDH in the model group were higher than those in the blank group (all P<0.01). The levels of serum MDA and BUN, as well as the activities of AST, ALT and LDH in the moxibustion group were lower than those in the model group (P<0.01). Conclusion: Moxibustion at Shenque (CV 8) can decrease the serum levels of MDA and BUN, as well as activities of AST, ALT and LDH in the long-term fatigue rats, thus to improve the symptoms of fatigue.